Hi. We are a design/style LA based company specializing in mixing eclectic styles on moderate budgets. Also we have a strange amount of fun blogging about all our design and style adventures. Right now I’m happy to say that I’m Target’s home spokesperson, bringing accessible/stylish design to the masses.

Filling Up The Walls...

Our Favorite Affordable Large Scale Art (and how to get it in your own home)

While a good gallery wall will never be dead, dated, or out of style, the popularity of one large-scale piece of art to fill your wall has risen. Pinterest has even named it one of the biggest trends of 2018 (although we have to say the last couple years we’ve been leaning that way). But, good, large-scale pieces of art typically also come with large-scale price tags. So, as we like to do we decided to find a workaround for that and bring to you a post that was stocked full of options, ideas, and choices to fulfill all of your large-scale art fantasies (and ours).

But before we get into it let’s talk for a moment about why large-scale art works so well in just about every room and every style. As you can see above in Cup of Jo’s living room and in Brady’s dining room one large piece can anchor an entire gallery wall and is actually our #1 tip when trying to arrange a gallery wall that most people forget. Find yourself a large piece of art and then let the gallery stem out from there so that not everything feels small and bitsy in your collection. The large piece commands and grounds the wall visually and then allows everything else to work around it creating a much easier job for you when you start filling in the rest of the wall with your collection.

But large-scale art is just as beautiful and commanding on its own and need not be in a gallery wall to work in a room and be appreciated. And TBH, stand-alone large-scale art is what we are really loving recently. A large piece like we had in our living room above, visually fills the space but it also keeps things from looking busy and chaotic like a gallery wall could.

Below we used this large bison print in Cup of Jo’s bedroom and the modern piece of art helps to elevate the more playful and bright textiles below bringing the whole collection (and room) together, all while filling a rather large blank wall space without cluttering it with a lot of smaller frames.

Unfortunately, large-scale art pieces like these often are not something that you can run to the store and buy and typically aren’t the most affordable either. BUT, that didn’t deter us, and we have some good news for you. The internet is filled with incredible big pieces at pretty affordable prices. You just have to know where to look and how to pull it together. So let’s get into it.

Large-scale art typically gets high in price point for three reasons: 1) the artist is well known and rightfully wants to charge a fair amount for their piece due to the time and creative process it took to create it, 2) the printing or material expenses for a large piece is higher than those of a small piece, and 3) framing such a large piece is more labor-intensive and technically difficult so framers charge a higher price point. The first one we can’t do much about, and we also will always endorse supporting artists, creatives, and photographers but we can tackle getting the price points down on the second two. Which is what we have done for you in this roundup. You see, there are quite a few places that sell the digital files of a piece of art or photograph, that you can buy for less than $20 and then can have it printed whatever size you want. So although this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as digital art files that can be purchased online, printed and then framed on your own, it should be a good jumping off point for you. Here are a few of our favorites:

As mentioned this is such a small curation of what is all available online, but we love all of these and they would all work so well in many different styles of homes. So now that you have some of the art picked out, it comes time to purchase the file, download it, and then send it off to be printed. There are so many places to print and you might have somewhere local that could do it for even cheaper than what we have listed, but here are just a few that we would recommend:

Artifact Uprising – They are known for their beautiful archival prints and linen covered books but they also do large scale printing and you can get something printed at a 40×60 size for around $150.

Aspen Creek Photo – This place was recommended by Jenny’s Print Shop, who is one of the places that we highlighted above in the roundup and have so many good options to download and print. They can print a 30×45 size for around $54

Fedex – Your local chain copier also does large scale prints for around $12 per sq. ft. which if you are on a tight turn around is a great option as it is local and affordable.

Staples – The same as above, but a slightly more affordable price point at $6.99 per sq. ft.

WHCC – Another online option that will print and send you large-scale prints at $5.75 per sq. ft.

Parabo Prints – These guys have so many great products but you can get large scale 36×45 size in these options and prices: Color $25, B&W $20. They also ofter poster rails if you don’t want to have it custom framed.

Costco – Last but not least and one of our favorites is Costco. Which will print a 30×40 piece for $139.99 (unframed) & $179.99 (framed). The framing selections will vary by location, but we have always loved their quality and customer service.

As far as how to get it printed – abstract and fine art prints typically will look best on archival quality paper stock that has a matte finish and then photographs will look best printed on paper with a gloss or luster finish.

Once you have them printed it is time to get them framed, which is where you can start getting creative and custom. Here are a few of our favorite online places that do custom framing.

Framebridge: We love Framebridge and they continue to be our go-to online source for custom framing. They can do float framing, framing with or without a mat and also have a new solid wood collection that is beautiful. Their max framing size is 32×40 but you can always reach out to them to see if they can accommodate a custom order. That size starts at $199 but also includes printing services if you want to have it all be a one-stop shop for printing and framing.

Simply Framed: Similar in concept to Framebridge these guys offer online printing and framing options and have a few different styles than Framebridge to pick from as well as accommodate large sizes. These prices are for framing starting at 30″x30″ or larger.

American Frame: If you want to save a bit and are willing to print it yourself and then place it in the frame, American Frame has a large selection of frames that can be custom made to fit just about any size. The prices vary depending on how much you customize it (IE frame, mat, style, etc) but they are a great online option with a large selection. Their max size: 32×48 for most of their frames.

If you feeling handy and are willing to DIY then you can create a frame for an even lower price than the ones above. We haven’t attempted any of these personally, but each one of these has a great step by step guide for you to follow.

Hommemaker – D.I.Why? Making a Frame For Your Large Scale Art In 10 Easy Steps

You still with us? Yes, these might take a bit more labor than going out and purchasing a fully finished piece but they will save you a lot in the long run and also allow you to customize sizing and framing a lot more than you might with an already framed piece. But, if DIYing isn’t your jam and printing your own art sounds like a headache that you would rather avoid here are some of our favorites that sell the art, print it and frame it which basically takes all the labor off of you besides adding it to your online cart and fronting the bill.

Target: They always carry a good selection of large-scale art every season and if you find something you love be sure to buy it as they don’t stay in stock for long. One of my favorite pieces which I get the most compliments on is from them and it looks like such a high-end piece.

Minted: Has a massive online selection of art and photographs from artists around the world and they also frame in a variety of sizes and options.

Urban Outfitters: They sell both prints and frames but they have a revolving collection of eclectic prints that work well for more boho or eclectic styles.

West Elm: They don’t always have a huge selection in store but they do have a good assortment online that changes seasonally.

CB2: They are expanding their art collection and have quite a few good options in larger sizes for more modern homes and apartments.

Anthropologie: They carry quite a large selection (not all of which are large scale) but they do have some good options and are always a good resource to look through.

Tappan Collective: These guys are a bit more expensive than the other ones but have a wonderful curation of photography and art.

All in all, we hope that this will be a resource for you moving forward, so let us know if there are any printing, framing, or art sources that we are forgetting that have large-scale options, and of course if you have any questions about the process or anything in relation to large-scale art let us know below, and we will try to get your questions answered.

You may also like:

I clicked through to Orlando’s DIY, which links to a 2014 story that he wrote for you here on the blog (the headboard painting DIY project for the kid’s room). Sadly all but the reveal pics are broken links and the comments underneath seem to be all spam. Maybe it happened when you moved platforms? Seems like a great tutorial too!

Unfortunately when we switched platforms and moved servers we did lose some of the old content 🙁 but it may still be on his old site or was potentially reposted somewhere or like Shopgirl says you could try refreshing your browser and it could work. xx

Keep an eye out for any big craft shows. There is one twice per year around here that features a lot of great artists selling their work. You can find photos and paintings of all different kinds, and the prices are reasonable because you are buying directly from the artist.

Sycamore Street Press who we linked up in the roundup does have some old world paintings that are being reproduced and printed. You could take a look through there and we also love EBTH, Chairish, and Etsy for vintage art.

I live in Minneapolis & our local art school (MCAD) has an annual art sale each year, featuring students & new alumnae. Ticket sales go to the school for scholarships & artists get the money from sales of their pieces. It’s very popular here. I have to imagine that other art & design colleges might have something similar? A great way to find emerging talent!

This made me laugh. I read “If you are a bit more handy and are willing to DIY then you can create a frame for an even lower price” and my first thought was, “Didn’t Orlando do that once?” Lo and behold, the first link was to his project. 🙂

I printed FLORA from Jenny’s Print Shop at 30″x45″ through Aspen Creek. The issue then was that we couldn’t find a ready made frame at that size. I didn’t feel comfortable doing a DIY since we have kids and it was going to be above the couch and, thus, accessible to tiny hands who could possibly pull it apart and down. We ended up getting it framed at Michael’s during one of their 70% off custom framing periods. It ended up being more than $200 for the framing, but we decided it was worth it since we love the print and wanted it to be as secure as possible!

If you buy a print in the future you can’t find a ready-made frame for, another option is to purchase a ready-made frame that’s too large for the print, then go to a frame shop (or Michael’s!) and buy a matt and having them cut it to fit the frame / print. I’ve done that before and it’s a lot cheaper than paying for a full custom frame job. (Or you could probably order a mat online, someplace like this: https://www.matboardandmore.com/products/custom-matting.aspx)

As a professional printer, I want to also mention that while Fed Ex or Staples or Kinko’s are all viable options for printing digital files, there are often local reprographic firms that can make large scale color or black & white prints in your community. Not only do they have more paper options but their quality is usually superior, they are cheaper and you get to talk to a live person, all while supporting your local economy! Look for a print shop that prints construction plans, they usually have a wide format color department too. Some of them may even be able to frame or mount them once their printed.

I’m so glad you shared this. I use a very small, local printer/gallery to print my fine art photography and every time I pick up an order I know I’ve supported a small business and the artists who own it instead of a mega corporation. It’s easy to find them — just google Fine Art Printer and the name of your town. Although I live in a major city, I was able to find a terrific little print shop in the small town where my mom lives when I need to fill orders while I’m visiting her.

I am so happy that large scale art is coming back as it gives such a great impact in a room, be it a bedroom or a dining room. I just love it! What an amazing collection of artwork there is here, I love the Dan Hobday yellow piece – so cool – and Simply Framed sounds so awesome as framing can be so expensive, cannot wait to try it out! Thanks for sharing!

I have a 40×40 sheep print in my livingroom and 24×30.5 blue cow print from Meagan Donegan. Her limited edition prints are incredible. They get so many compliments and I know I’ll keep them up forever.

♥️Love your round up so much!♥️I also sell large scale artwork on my site http://www.melimba.com. I sell both large scale DIGITAL files ($10) & PRINTED artwork (both available up to 36”x48”). And I have lots of stuff for kids’ spaces.

Big artwork is my favorite and I love that it is more cost effective these days!

This is such a great guide! Could you give some more info about American Frame? Do you have to assemble yourself? Do they just send the parts? I couldn’t quite make sense of their website. I have a large 27×27 print that I’ve been dying to frame and this seems like it might be a good option.

I’ve ordered from American Frame a few times and I’m a big fan. Yes, they do just send the pieces, but they are super easy to assemble. The metal frames are assembled by using a mounting plate to attach each pair of sides and tightening a few screws. You slide in your artwork, acrylic, and backing piece before attaching the final side. The wooden frames from them that I’ve ordered have come with the wood frame portioned assembled and you just have to screw on the clips to hold the artwork in. Takes maybe five minutes and very little skill to put together.

They also will send you free samples of mat board and frame pieces so you can be sure that the frame you choose matches your artwork. I’ve ordered a lot of frames from a lot of companies and this is now my go to place, esp. if I’m framing something that’s a weird size.

Printable art may be a bit more affordable, but when you buy large scale photography from a professional, they have used a reputable printer, archival inks and quality papers made to last a lifetime without fading or foxing (discoloration). That may not matter to some, or to those that change their look yearly, but quality shows and can make or break a carefully curated room. As a fine art photographer, of course I’m biased.

These roundups are THE BEST! Thank you for never forgetting what it’s like to be on a tight budget. There are a lot more people out there buying at Target than at Kelly Wearstler, and it is so nice to have someone think about us, too.

Thanks Emily & team! This post is super helpful! I’ve been struggling with how to fill the large, white walls in my new rental apartment for months, and while stores like Target are great for the occasional pre-framed large-scale piece (I purchased their pink and green landscape after seeing it in your living room!), I want most of the art in my house to feel unique to my personality and space — but don’t have the dolla dolla billz to purchase and frame Big Art. I’ve also gotten very lost in the sheer amount of choice provided by online print shops, not to mention felt weirdly overwhelmed at the thought of doing the math (ah! addition!) required to see if printing + framing on my own is really saving me enough money to make the extra bit of effort worth it.

All that is to say, it’s therefore super awesome to have a curated selection of attractive large-scale art with all the printing and framing prices laid out for me in one place! I love pieces #3 and #11 in particular and am definitely thinking about purchasing them (…although the cost of framing still makes me want to cry a little. I guess it’s something to save for?! Unless I miraculously up my handiness game overnight and wake up able to complete those framing tutorials… which sadly – not to mention historically – seems unlikely.)

These resources are awesome! I recently purchased a large scale photography poster and I have been struggling to find a cost effective way to frame it. Most places I checked online didn’t go large enough, so I was convinced I may have to pay a lot for custom framing. Now, I see that Simply Framed is a totally reasonable option! Yay!

So I actually bought a photo from Jenny’s Print Shop for my anniversary gift to my husband (paper anniversary…large framed print…close enough?) and was just looking on your blog, Little Green Notebook, etc for resources! This post literally came on exactly the perfect day.

I want to frame the print above our bed and I’m a little unsure of how small is too small for a queen sized bed. I was thinking I would do a 24″ by 36″ like Jenny did for the One Room Challenge bedroom, but that sounds smaller than it looks. What are your thoughts on sizing? I don’t think I can swing custom framing, so I am trying to stick with frames from Michaels or Ikea.

My go to is the large ikea frames (24×36 i think). I just take the mating out and you have a huge frame. The black or white are pretty modern looking and for $20 a frame very cheap! Then I just got the pictures printed from Costco ($30 each!) and for about $60 a frame I am very happy.

Also – if you are printing a black and white and want to change it out often – you can use engineering prints at Staples. I think they are about $5 or less a print for 24×36 (can go up to 30×42 at some locations!).

PS- Loved your MLK post. My instinct is to shield my 5 year old from ugliness and hate. Your post makes me realize it is important to face difficult topics and turn them into teachable moments–especially when our little ones are still so impressionable. Keep up the wonderful work!

Loooooove all of these suggestions! I’m helping one of my girlfriends fill some walls at her house right now, so I sent this over to her!

A few more ideas for large scale art…

World Market is a great affordable source for art that is already framed! They run such great sales, and even without waiting for a sale, their prices are really good.

Or of course, DIY. I bought a massive canvas during one of Michael’s sales last summer (it was the biggest one they have in the store, and I got it for $30) and DIY’d a big black and white abstract design using cheap paint I also bought at Michael’s. The nice thing with that is if you mess up, you can always paint the whole thing white and start over. I can’t remember the exact dimensions of my painting but the whole thing cost me under $50 and it’s HUGE.

Another option for DIY is taking an old canvas piece you already own (maybe you bought a giant Ikea piece in college to fill and wall and now you don’t know what to do with it – or picking something up on major sale at Homegoods) and painting over it with white then trying your own abstract art. Basically just recycling an old piece.

I recently bought a large (43” x 31”) original oil painting of an old barn with a big dark sky and kind of a November feeling to it. I thought it was moody and soothing and I just HAD to have it. I think I was on some prescription medication that day. Anyway, I can’t seem to find a spot for it. It’s currently under my daughter’s bed. Do I just accept defeat and try to sell it? Please help!

Emily- love your aesthetic and how well you are influencing more consumers to find incredible resources for art and framing! Check out the exciting new GALLERY MOMENTS retailer program by Larson-Juhl on behalf of US Independent Retailers. http://www.ljgallerymoments.com – Whether styling a personal photograph or selecting from a vast and curated art collection, shoppers can now personalize their art of choice on brilliant acrylic, modern metal, classic canvas and paintings! #TrendForward Enjoy!

Hi Emily, Do you have a rec for an online source that can do deckle edge prints that are large/oversized?

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Emily is a stylist, author and T.V. host with a strong commitment to vintage inspired approachable home style for every single person. Perfection is boring; Let’s get weird. learn more

Interior Design Blog by Emily Henderson

I started this interior design blog in 2010 as a journal of my style and home projects with the belief that design should be approachable, informational and accessible no matter what budget.

As a home style expert who has a strong commitment to peeling back the intimidating layers of the world of home decor, and showing how every person can have a beautiful home that represents their personality, no matter what the budget.

After styling for magazines and catalogues for years, I started my own interior design blog, won HGTV Design Star, and have gone on to host my own hit TV show Secrets from a Stylist, Author the book STYLED, and create the design firm Emily Henderson Design.

My motto has always been to write and publish on my blog what I personally want to read about.